Sunderland teammates delighted for Brown over injury fight-back

His Sunderland team-mate and former Manchester United colleague Phil Bardsley says the 34-year-old deserves all the plaudits for refusing to throw in the towel and accept a pay-off to settle his contract, which runs until 2015.

Bardsley told the Evening Chronicle: "When you have players like Wes Brown in your back four, you are going to keep teams out.

"I thought he was absolutely fantastic against Manchester City, particularly considering he has been out so long. He has had difficult times.

"What a top fella to come back from what he has had because many people would probably have chucked it.